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Sir Anthony van Dyck

(1599-1641), Painter

Sitter associated with 30 portraits
Artist associated with 1023 portraits
Sir Anthony van Dyck was by far the most influential painter to have worked in Britain during the seventeenth century. Flemish by birth, he found patronage in a number of European countries, but his longest stay was in England, which he made his home from the beginning of his second visit in 1632 until his death in 1641 (with a break back in Antwerp in 1634-5). While his predecessors from the Low Countries had brought to Britain hints of what painting might become, it was van Dyck who decisively turned British portraiture away from the stiff, formal 'iconic' approach of Tudor and Jacobean painting. In England he developed the distinctive fluid, shimmering style that was to dominate portraiture in Britain not just during the seventeenth century but right up until the early years of the twentieth century. Rewarded by his most famous patron, Charles I, with a knighthood, his enduring influence - and a sense that it would be impossible to better him - was universally recognised and remarked on not only by his contemporaries but also by his successors.

More on van Dyck: In focus: Anthony van Dyck | Van Dyck A Masterpiece for everyone
Watch a film clip on the artist from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

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Inigo Jones, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 603

Inigo Jones

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, feigned oval
NPG 603

Inigo Jones, after an engraving by Robert van Voerst, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 3128

Inigo Jones

after an engraving by Robert van Voerst, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
brown wash
NPG 3128

Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland, reduced copy after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 287

Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland

reduced copy after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas
NPG 287

Henrietta Maria, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 227

Henrietta Maria

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, 17th century, based on a work of circa 1632-1635
NPG 227

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 1077

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1633, based on a work of circa 1633
NPG 1077

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 2960

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1633, based on a work of circa 1633
NPG 2960

Venetia, Lady Digby, by Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 5727

Venetia, Lady Digby

by Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1633-1634
NPG 5727

Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 519

Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on panel, 17th-19th century, based on a work of circa 1635
NPG 519

King Charles I, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 843

King Charles I

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1635-1636
NPG 843

King Charles I, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 2137

King Charles I

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1635-1637
NPG 2137

King Charles I, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 1906

King Charles I

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1635-1637
NPG 1906

Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport; George Goring, Baron Goring, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 762

Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport; George Goring, Baron Goring

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1635
NPG 762

Thomas Killigrew, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 892

Thomas Killigrew

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, 17th century, based on a work of circa 1635
NPG 892

Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke, reduced copy after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 1489

Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke

reduced copy after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1635
NPG 1489

James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 90

James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, feigned oval, based on a work of 1636-1637
NPG 90

William Laud, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 171

William Laud

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1636
NPG 171

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 4531

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford

studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1636
NPG 4531

Five Children of King Charles I, after Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 267

Five Children of King Charles I

after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, 17th century, based on a work of 1637
NPG 267

King Charles II, studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 5705

King Charles II

studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1638
NPG 5705

Lord George Stuart, 9th Seigneur of Aubigny, by Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG 5964

Lord George Stuart, 9th Seigneur of Aubigny

by Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1638
NPG 5964

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